Managers in firing line for internal corruption

The Government has launched a fresh crack down on corruption under a new decree that will hold leaders of corrupt agencies accountable for any misconduct committed within their organisations.

Decree 211/2013/ND-CP, which was issued by the Government on December 19 to amend and supplement Decree 107 issued in 2006, raises the legal threshold for accountability by directing blame, warnings or dismissals towards agency leaders in a bid to tighten management practices.

Under the new decree, leaders will be granted amnesty only if they have made efforts to implement measures to prevent, monitor and correct unethical behaviours in line with the law.

Accordingly, leaders serving in the people's army or the people's public security will be punished under laws for those respective bodies.

The same legal standards will remain for leaders found to be playing a direct and definitive role in corruption causing tangible harms to society or the State.

The law, however, extends its reach to implicate leaders across multiple agencies linked to incidences of corruption.

The decree will come into effect from February next year.

Party leader asks for Constitution enforcement

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has asked the Committee for drafting amendments to the 1992 Constitution to ensure the enforcement of the newly-adopted amended document that is slated to take effect on January 1, 2014.

At a conference in Hanoi on December 26 to review the committee’s activities, General Secretary Trong lauded the committee’s members for their high sense of responsibility, fulfilling duties assigned by the Party, State and people.

He also urged the committee’s members to continue screening and amending the legal system in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

Built on over 26 million public opinions and discussions at more than 28,000 conferences and talks nationwide, the leader said the Constitution is a symbol of brainpower of the entire Party, people and armed forces, reflecting strong will and aspirations of a majority of people.

The adoption of new Constitution at the recent sixth session of the 13th National Assembly is a major political and legal event, marking a new stride in the national law-making history, he noted.

At the event, National Assembly Chairman and the Committee’s President Nguyen Sinh Hung expressed his thanks to the Party Central Committee, the members of the Committee for Drafting the amendments to the 1992 Constitution, ministries, agencies, experts, scientists and people from all walks of life for their critical input into the document.

He also requested the Committee’s members to supervise and put the Constitution into the real life.

Established in August 2011, the committee actively studied foreign experience in drafting Constitution and called for public feedback on the amendments.

Divided into 11 chapters with 120 articles (one chapter and 27 articles fewer than the previous version), the amended Constitution clearly states that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is governed by law and mastered by the people.

It fully specifies political and economic regimes, showing the nature of Vietnam’s economy as a market-based one following the socialist orientations.

The document also highlights culture, science-technology, environment protection, human rights, basic citizens’ rights and obligations, national defence, the State apparatus, the validity and amendments to the Constitution.

On the State apparatus, it basically inherits the State organisation model mentioned in the old version, but better explains the principle that State powers are unified and decentralised to State bodies in the exercise of their legislative, executive and judiciary powers.

Birthday congratulations extended to Japanese Emperor

State President Truong Tan Sang has cabled a December 26 message of congratulations to Japanese Emperor Akihito on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Emperor Akihito’s birthday coincides with Japan’s National Day.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also passed on their well wishes to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on December 26 received Thai ambassador to Vietnam Anuson Chivanno who bade farewell before concluding his term in Vietnam.

VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan and outgoing Thai ambassador Anuson Chivanno.

At the reception, Nhan spoke highly of the Thai diplomat’s contributions to strengthening the Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership across a variety of fields.

He said he hopes that Chivanno, no matter his future position, will continue to make more contributions fostering the solidarity, friendship and all-round cooperation between the two nations, especially in human resources development.

The Thai guest thanked the VFF for offering the best possible conditions for him to fulfill all tasks during his working term and pledged his efforts to consolidating the ties of friendship and cooperation.

Russian Duma delegation visits Ben Tre

First Vice President Ivan Ivanovich has led a Russian State Duma delegation on a December 26 working visit to the southern province of Ben Tre.

Ben Tre Provincial People’s Council Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong briefed his guests on the province’s socio-economic and cultural development, the advantages it boasts in its marine economy and agricultural processing industry, and other features salient to foreign investment.

Seven local businesses are currently working with Russian partners. Coconut rice, tra fish fillets, and active coal are all exported to Russia. Two Russian businesses are also invested in Ben Tre aquaculture.

Phong promised Ben Tre will do all it can to encourage additional investment from Russian businesses.

 Ivan Ivanovich applauded the province’s coconut products and modern export infrastructure and wished local residents future economic development success.

Provincial authorities guided the Russian delegation on a tour of Ben Tre Import-Export Joint Stock Company’s coconut rice factory.

The factory’s 11-month export turnover with its Russian partners approached US$700,000.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA